Memorial service for Alan Henning

A memorial service will be held today for murdered British hostage Alan Henning.

His widow, Barbara, and children Adam and Lucy are expected to attend the ceremony at the British Muslim Heritage Centre in Whalley Range, Manchester.

The tribute entitled His Life and Legacy Remembered will include speeches from friends of the popular 47-year-old taxi driver and also faith and political leaders.

Organisers urged the public to “join together to remember an extraordinary individual and the need to continue his legacy of humanitarian aid work”.

On their Facebook page, they added: “This event is to remember Alan Henning, the work he did and pay tribute to the legacy he has left behind.

“This is for people of all faiths and none to stand together, unite and continue the work.”

An Alan Henning memorial fund for his family, set up by one of the event’s organisers – friend and fellow aid worker Dr Shameela Islam-Fulfiqar – on the Go Fund Me platform, has raised more than £25,000.

Another online fund, set up by a community group in Walkden, Salford, has raised nearly £9,000.

Last Sunday, Mrs Henning and her family joined hundreds of well-wishers at a service of “reflection and solidarity” at Eccles Parish Church in Salford.

A video showing the brutal murder of Mr Henning – who was kidnapped last December in Syria by Islamic State (IS) militants – was posted on the internet by the group last week.

Mr Henning, from Eccles, was captured while delivering food and supplies on an aid convoy to refugees.